Tire building machine



s 9, n KKH 4 m w..%N m Q NT. R f S W 2 n umm e l h Ill s W 0 r 1 e n.. n m. m I F Aw RN Km Ln .U HB E R I T lllll l I I I l|||||||||| Oct. 2l, 1952 FlledNov 2, 1950 Oct. 21, 1952 H To KRAFT 2,614,952

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Filed Nov. `2, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 2l, 1952 Fild Nov. 2, 195o H. T. KRAFT 2,614,952

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE 10 Shee ts-Sheet 6 g 9D INVENTOR m Herman Kraf't q) BY vzw/.1 1 71e TTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1952 H T, KRAFT 2,614,952

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE y Y 5/ F17. 15 4 x l 8 O 5/ x 0 O 68 @o 4a d 60 34 f l 49 1 /64 /Z 55 55 e5 l v L NVENTOR Herman T.. Kraft Mmm-favs if Oct. 21, 1952 H. T. KRAFT 2,614,952

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1950 lO Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. El]

INVENTOR Hernan n, T. Kraft ATTORNEYS 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 2, 1950 87 A INVENTOR O 75 E Herman Kraft BY fa/vw 7&2@ Q7 ATTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1952 H. T. KRAFT TIRE BUILDING MACHINE lO Sheets-Sheet lO Filed NOV. 2, 1950 Herman. T. Kraft BY www 7//56 l ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 21, 1952 s PATENT oFFlcE TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Herman T. Kraft, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 2, 195o, serial No. 193,597

112,579,`filed August 26,1949; of Clifford B. Orr.

Another object is to` provide a novel means and method of disposingthetire beads accurately upon the fabric layers while they are wrapped around the tire drum. i. s

Another object of. this invention is to provide novel means for turning the tire ply fabric over the tire beads.

Still another object ofthis invention is to provide novel stitching hammer means which thoroughly beat and hammer the tire tread onto `the layers of ply fabric. s

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the tire building machine as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings hereinafter described` and v particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations andmodications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the` art `to, which this invention pertains. f n i Reference should be had to the `accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which: i 1 n Figure l is a front4 elevational View of the Alinachine showing the tire building drum, tread, stitching hammers, fabric turnover4 fingers, and

related operating machinery and controls;

Fig. 2 is left sideelevation of the tire building machine showing the stitching hammers in the s retracted and operative positions, andthe location of other machine parts;` A A Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the drum, bead` placing rings, and the rack and pinion mechanism for advancing and retracting the bead placing rings; o Fig, 4 is a detailed enlargement of the gear segment and cam mechanismfor turningdown the outside or left-handbead placing ring;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the drum with the cord'plies wrappedaround it prior to expansions() and with the bead placing rings in position with the tire beads thereon;

Fig. 6 is an end detail cross-section with parts broken away taken along A"line ii-B of Fig. 5` l lthrough the center Yof th'edrum showing the drum7U 33 Claims. (Cl. 154-.-10) l nr ser) the centering lug;

construction with the circumferential groove and `rubber' ring therein;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional detail with parts broken away taken along line i-- of Fig. 5 of one -of the centenlugs which are welded to drum channel segments and which expand out with the `channel segments when the drum iniiatesand press against the tire bead to hold and position it. Thisldetail shows an end view of the cente lug as positioned prior to expansion;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail of the pneumatic connections through the drum shaft for inflating the drum; l

Fig. 9 is an end view of the drum, with a small portion broken away, taken along line @-ii oi Fig. 5; It shows the disposition of the turnover lingers and garter spring;

Fig. l0 is a sectional endview of the drum taken along line I-i of Fig. 5 through the `ringer check ring;`

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional detail taken on line Il-ll of Fig.'9 showing the flange or overhang `on the slotted end cylinders for checking drum expansion;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation oi the drum with parts brokenaway, vshowing thedrurn in the expanded position and. the turnover Fingers in their most inward or advanced position;

Fig. 13 is a top elevation view taken on line `Hai- I3 of F-ig. 12`ofa turnover finger;

Fig. 14 is'an enlarged cross-sectional view ofl over the bead in the turnover operation;

Fig. l'I'is the same as Fig. 16 showing the ringer further advanced and one-haii' way through the turnover operation; Y

Fig. 18 is the same as Fig. 16, showing the nnger completely advanced and completing the turnover operation;

Fig. 18a is a cross-sectional Viewv taken along line ia--la o Fig. `i8 showing an end view oi' Fig. 19 is the'same as Fig. 16, showing the finger as it is retracted;

"Fig. 2O4 is aside elevation of the drum with parts brokensaway to show-it in the expanded 3 position with a completed carcass or casing thereon;

Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the deated drum with the assembled casing hanging thereon prior to being removed;

Fig. 22 is a detail view of a hammer and hoW it strikes the Camelback on the drum;

Fig. 23 isa sideielevation of the stitching hammer positioning 1 arms and hammer fdriving chains;

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional plan View of theI stitch-ing hammers, cam shaft, and. plates and positioning arm; and

Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram cfg-they control system of this invention. .Ita-shoWswthe-solenoid switches, air valves, and electrical switches and connections.

The present invention relates to a tirel building machine and method. The machine briefly comprises a central tire building drum D which is mounted cantilever fashionion ashaft extending from the machine frame F, thedrum-.being sesr Ymentedv and r expanding '.pneumatically.

- Ply material comprising` parallel.cordsorweak .weft fabricA impregnated withA rubber iswrapped around the drum in-layers with`l cords `diagonally disposed and oppositely. directed in successive layers. Tire beadsare-located and Vplacedonlthe end portions of the fabric layers. lFabric lapping means vthen advances inwardlfrom eachedge of i the drum and-turns the. edges fthefab'ric vlayers over the tire beads. .A strip .fftire tread .is wrapped around 'the fabric layers-and-.drum,. and amultiplicity. of hammers YI-I .nextbeat down this tread onto the fabric layers. lThe assembled carcass is then removed.'from'l'the.drum,` expanded or bagged and vulcanized .in'fthe `usual manner.

Drum' assembly The drum D is an expandable. drumfstructure or form mountedv onz.and4A rotating :with l'drum shaft I. Thexdrum shaft Iuisfhollow; and extends cantilever fashion from Athefmachine'frame-iv". `It is journaled or rotates from one endfin .two

needle-bearing journals-land@ which;` turn are bolted to the machine:frame. "The :drum

7shaft is rotated byl pulley/4 .and belt5 from fdriv- 'drum spiders or cylinders"y 84- mounted oni either side ofthe center spiders. The center-spider#` has a narrow;circular-supporting portion 9 (E1-ig." 12) with' a 'central circumferential '-"groove or .channel Ill therein connected by. Web'orbrace to a collar portion Ilmounted or keyed: ontoi'the drum shaft. The outer face ori supportingypor- `tion is Y-shaped in cross-sectionatthegroovef as shown.

The drum cylinders or annuli supporting pieces 8 are relatively WideV cylindrical structuresslid- .ably mounted on the drum shaft. Each cylinder has an outer cylindrical portion or` face I2 con-A necting by ribs or spokes I3 to collarportions I4 on the drum shaft. The collar portion. I I of .the center spider is tightly `keyed onto vthe shaft by key I and collarportions` II. slideonthe shaft.f.75

4 and are loosely keyed to the shaft by this key. Thus the drum spiders B are slidable on the drum shaft and can be axially adjusted by adjusting means or right and left screw I6 threaded on collar portions II as shown and supported by .bearing I'I in spider 1. This adjustment varies the drum width to accommodate Various widths 1offplyomaterial and to buildldifferentwidth tires.

4Thecylindrical..portions; 'I2 of the drum cylinders have an inwardly directed flanged portion I8 :faround the edge furthest from the center spider to which slotted end cylinders or end pieces I9 eonleitherside of the drum cylinders are bolted. r.'Iheslotted-end.cylinders have a corresponding 'l flangediv-portionl2'.abutting the flanged portions f I 8,-of-the fdrurn. cylinders.

Disposed around each drum spider 8 are two pneumaticannulifl2l. These annuli are preferably.y hollow rubber tubes which can be inflated and deiiated by pneumatic inflating means or connections.22. Maximum drum expansion is llimited by "circumferenti'al'ly fflanged' portions 23 (Fig. 11) on'the'end'cylinders which checkthe axially extending "garter springs' 24" in" support portions`25 ofthe drum end'segmentsv 26.

l The drum surface is formed by .ai multiplicity of narrow segments such as'end'segments disposed over annuli 2| and center or" spanning segments' 27"'disposed across the" central portions ofthe drumand overlapping end segments'Z.

' The#centersegments 2lA (Figs. 5and' 12) are characterized by a central bend' 28^Which`formsa `groove or 'channel .around the drum Ncircumference. "A" resilient constrainingmeans'; or" rub- 4berbandiZil is'pla'ce'din" this'grooven and serves to keep the segments aligned' and fin order. The jrubber .band 29 isin tension` whenplaced ini the groove formed by these segmentsand the tension is increased when thedrum expands. "Whenthe annuli are 'deflated and` the Adrum" is' contracted, tensile forces in the'rubberband draw the'center segments back-onto; the spider. Thev' bend-in the segments ts into the circumferentialjgroove VI Il in the center spider sothat withthe-rubber band the segmentsare' constantly being centered and'A located'v as the drum -is'expanded-and contracted. The intetting of `thecenteribend in the segments with the "circumferential l' groove in the spider' also =-constrains" "the segments against Aaxial shifting.

Disposed over the annuli' on 'the vvdrum'cylinders '38 are thenanged `prend-segmentsf26. *These lsegments 'f are characterized by" end 1 flanges "'30 and 3| which t over the drum ends andproject radially inward' therefrom. Flanges"A 3 I tare Yad- -jacent the central spider and 'flanges A33 are 'adjacent the-` end cylinder. `At the innermost positionf on said flangesare supports or rests 2 25 l and? 32for supportingl thetconstraining means or garter` l springs24. *The f garten springs' -con tinuously draw finon the segments toalign'them 'and keep them in vorder-'throughout -theexpansion. and contraction cycle.

iThe flanged:segments-and centen-segments are vpref'erablyarranged .closely together or-abu'tting around the drum so that when'thef'drum expanded the-*maximum circumferential;surface is ffpresented. :F.ig. 6" illustrates-thisarrangement. This gurefshows vthe drumfin'f'the vcontracted 1 position fand' forlY this reason the separate seg- ;'ments -ini each. layerinearlyi 'abut -eachf other. Naturallyk in thevexpanded'xposition.the gapsare wider.

.Bolted or otherwisey attached-tothe drum cylinders 8 are drumV end pieces I9. These end. pieces are v.cylindrical members with .a .reduced for tapered l end portion 34 (Fig.` 12). Disposed around the cylinder face are `a plurality of slots or cuts similar to cutss35 (Fig.` '10)1 eachv slot 'accommodatinga turnover finger. As described,

the inner edge or face of each of these endlpieces or slotted cylindrical members has a flange or inner extension bolt. 1

` Bead placing means The bead placing means disposes or places the tire beads over the end portions of the tire fabric 20 to-Which the drumcylinders.

and axially out from and adjacent the drum shoulders. l

`The bead placing meansttFig. i3) comprisesV jecting inwardly `and axially therefrom. `TheV fingers are preferably resilient so` that they can receive `beads of slightly different diameter and thus not require close bead tolerances. The axial length of the fingers is preferably less than that of the beads so that when the beads resttupon them, portions of the beads will project out and beyond the fingers. Thus the beads will contact fabric on initial expansion of the drum while also being positively positioned by the bead placing means. Needless to say, since the tire beads are actually steel or wire rings, they are relatively inexpansible. i

The bead rings are moved and positioned over the fabric ends by pinion 38 and bead racks 39 and fio (Fig. 3). `The inner or right-hand ring frame lli'l is attached directly to rack 39 and moves in and out with it.` This ring is centered in relation to the drum so as to fit over the end portion of it without difliculty. The outer or left hand bead ring frame |48 has two spaced integral armsl It@ to which camfcllowers 42 are attached.`

This frame litt is keyed to ring shaft 93 as shown. Also keyed to the ring shaft and intermediate the spaced arms |43 is gear segment 4| which engages ra.ck"iii. Cam follower 42 fits in arcuate slot or cam 43 so that when the rod is moved outward andthe cam follower reaches its slot, the ring is pivoted and dropped down horizontal- 4ly. ln turn, as the rod is moved inward the cam raises the ring back to a vertical positionat right angles to `the major drum axis. The bead rings are pivoted in their frames or supports |41 and |43. The bead ring frames move back and forth on guide bars or rods |55 (Fig. 2) and are located and supported thereby.

Fabric lapping means i slot in the end cylinders.

A 'turnovernger orzfolder is1shown in more detail in Fig; 11.7.. It `isunderstood :.thatxslmilar fingers .are disposedat equallyf'spaced intervals around the circumferences ofl thefendpie'ces 19.`

Each linger 44 has a small front or nose roller 41 on the nose portionand a series of ro1lers48 along the inside or bottom portion` `The rollers `are 1o cated on the lingers so that their fabric contacting faces, in cooperation with the resilient Aannular constraining means 49 ,generate a transversely curved circular `surface of somewhat ogee shape. As will laterappear, the convex portion l of the curve as presented to the tire` fabric and bead is defined in partby the resilientannuli.`

The nose portion or extension 80 of `eachlinger extends axially centerward beyond the annular spring 49 vand (engages or prys into the fabric end portions in the lapping operation. It is beveled or rounded as shown and preferablyhas a nose portion 41 therein. If desiredythe nose` portion may have athin extension `or bill extending axially centerward beyond the 'noseroller to pry into the fabric ends and prevent themv from doubling over. f l

` The fingers or folders 44 of the fabriclapping p means may be of varying lengths depending upon the width of the fabric ends which areitobe turned over.

` Fingers l extending substantially across the drum to` theopposite bead for sequential operatic-n or for lesser travel,` can be utilized in connection with the present inventions In such a case, the drum end cylinders and relatedparts are extended andelongated correspondingly to accommodate the fingers. l The back portion or remote end of the finger preferably has a bulbous `triangular extension l5!) as shown. In theline between the finger pivot 95 and collar pivot 144, the finger extension is formed with a small arcuate slot 5| which receives a stop pin 52 which is in turn attached onto the link 45. In this way a lost motion connection between the link and finger piece is achieved. The slot and pin limit the pivotal are of the finger piece and give the link or pusher piece a positive check with which to push the finger forward. Figs. 17 and 18 show the finger piece with the stop pin in the maximum forward horizontal position `as the assembly is pushed forward.

The links or pusher piecesare short metal pieces withpivots at either end'. A check rod or rivet 52 on the link is located toward the finger is formed as the assembly is push-ed forward. The hanged collar or sliding collars il@ (Fig.

12) at both ends of the drum assembly are cylin# drical collars or sleeves with flanges or flanged portions 54 and are in turn bolted to finger racks 55 and 5t which extend through thehollow center of the drum shaft andengage finger pinion 51. The rack 55 nearest the motors andcontrols is screwably attached to a rod 58 (Pig. 8) which i extends the `length of the hollow shaft and moves The fingers are evenly disposed` the racks in andout. The drum shaft itself has longitudinal slots 59 init to `provide for clearance of the bolt attaching to collars 46 and racks 55 and 56.

` The arrangement and disposition of the links and nger pieces about the drum circumference is `well illustrated `in Figs. 9 and 1U. Twelve folders and links are shown, although anyisuit- 75.`

.able number. may be used. `-F'ie also shows 7 7.tlfxenl'argeresilient:constrainingmeans or garter :spring'fldS ithrough :the noses :of 'z'.the ingers cto .draw them;downuponz.the .i Each dinger f1-ts 4in a'slot asis-hewn.

.fFigLlOfshowsz thapestionof:retaining4 uncheck ringx!! :.'one.-.the;slotted1fendf cylinders. Thiel rips' fits. mier thev tapered couter `end sportionf ,of the Aslottedcylindemarid;checksdihe' rearror tail-of .the nringer as it'initiallyfmoyes forwardoverfthe fabric layers. 'IThis :action is. iliustratedvinfllig.; i6. 'lhe fringacanfi-beadjusted.forwardnrbaclrward toiigv@ .'correctzgaction to the eassembly. Adjustment's madathronghithe ring adjusting tbolts Iz (Fig. .10) .whichffiit sin, holes w62 @and 'ldrawz up: against :the islottedmylinder.

hBead centering 'means .Functioning and operating with-.the beadplacingfmeans is the r-beadccentering means fon-expanding-.the-fabric .radially .outward 4.against ,the -innerf .cir'cumferenti al.` surface .of the tire l beads fand'l for .positvely centering.V thefbeads infooaxial relation to the drum and to the splymaterial comprising.the.tire .band. :The centering means comprisesa -serieswof blocks ,vor centering lugs i evenly..disposedearoundthezdrum shoulders and provided with means for expanding radially-outward-:against .the- ,innercircumferential.-.surface .ofthe tire-bead. Figs...l4=el9fshow one -of..these blocksfor centering lugs.

:Each centering lug 63 .-is a relatively. narrow ,piece lwitha rectangular-'g shape. Theinner. corner @adjacent thedrum cylinderhas a notchzor cutaway portion 64 therein .to accommodate the turned overedge.onsupport of the channelseg- :fment-26. Theggarter-springil rests' in thefsupeport as .shown. .The-gouter' corner-.adjacent` the eendcylinder has a bevel or. slantt to provide .a rampen-portion upon which the nose roller -of 4the lfinger` piecercan ride.

`Jilhe outsideedge or fabriclengaging face-of each centering .means preferably-.has .an axialoutaway -fportionr or. relief 55 on .the side adjacent .the end V,tylinder. `These reliefs Yprevent pinching of the :zbead supporting v fingers between the: centering .lugsa and .thee beads. Accordingly the reliefs fare .coextensiveimaxiallength Withthe lingers. This relief also eliminatesexcessive pressureor. mini- .-mizes-.pressureoir-.the lingers so thatzthe'aring can be-more-fv. easily withdrawn -z after the bead. is position. The risersor;pressure.applyingportions (61 extend. radiallyoutwardfrom the llugshand engageandexpand the .fabricagainstthexbeads.

.The centering lugs or blocks are relatively narrow v. circumferentially. and. arey disposed .aroundI .thedrum sothat one is. aligned .With-each finger in the end cylinder. lThe .lugs maybe .boltedr welded to the .flange-30. (Fig. 14) of. thezendsegments over the vdrum-shouldersso as .to expand with'the drum. In thisway the-drum itselfspro `vides the means for: expanding lthablocks radially f. outward. .Alternate vmeansgfor fexpanding the :blocks radially outward such .as-.aiseparatefpneu- -fmatioannulus may alsovbe used.

.-When the' centering lugs aresexpandedradially.-y

. outward.` against f the.y f abriceends,f othexextensiohs or risers "press .against'local-ized areas; of theziply material 68. embracedfbythe bead rings. iCEigs. 14-and 15). =Sincefeachlugpreferablyhasan insert or relief for the ngers, the outward-.pressing or f expanding forces ..applied to izthe i `fabric -byi-the lugs :are directed`- radially of .the lrisersy on l the lugs adjacent the. drum or cylinder fsshoul- ;ders. Thusv the portions Aofffabrio :endsfaxially .scentraleof thebeadfsupportingingerendsiearev yfirmly;pressed),and wiped against thefoverhang- :ing-.portions -of the vtire '.beadsn 69.

@The centering rlugsffarerelatively narrow as layers. --beads `have been accurately placed upon the over fingers. ,truded, uncured rubber with a cross-sectional vshown ingFig. 18a and-move in slotl in the slotted cylinder. or drumuendpiece. -As noted, the lcentering .lugs: :areevenly "disposed around the slotted cylinder corresponding with the` fingers so that there is one in axial alignment with each finger.

The method of placing and disposing the tire -beadson the-fabric ends visnow evident. .The tire'-beadv 69 withy its* fabricvwrappingandi 'flipper IH is placedv over the f resi-lient fingers -orI teeth 31 and against the face l2 of the bead ring. "*Fabric'layers .or plys are wrapped around'the drum. lSince boththe beadwrappingeand fabric "layers are .impregnated with-.a tacky rubber comupound, they readilyzstick:A together.

iTheibeadzrings A:are then brought forward or .advanced over the endxportions or axially outside voffan'd. adjacent the drum shoulders and the` drum isexpan'ded, y.As the .drum is expanded thecen- -tering lugs. push ,out1on` the fabric layers. .This turmrnesses` thev fabric .against those portions ofthe bead-concentric of the centering lugs. At

the sameitime, the face of the ring steadies .and restrainsgthe .bead to, prevent5 it fromfcvgoing .off menterfor beingy cocked. Thebead itselfcannot :expand appreciably because it is actually a ring of vsteel wire. rIhe bead, placing ring is nally withdrawn to leave the bead .accurately and positively. positioned :on the fabricends- (Fig. l5).

' Tread stitching means .Another `feature of Vthis .machineis the tread Vrstitching means ,or hammer Imechanism l-I which stitches or kneads the tire tread onto the fabric This operation commences .after the fabricV end .portions and the fabric end portions wrapped or rolled over said beadsby the turn- A tire tread or Camelback of ex- ..plicity of :beatingmembers'i' journaled ,on a ..series ofoamsvliwhich in turn are keyedor .otherwiseattachedto cam shafti'IE. `@This shaft is .mounted between mounting plates or support- .ipg plates 1.6 securedto frame plates 153 rigidly mounted on shaft .1B and tubular frame `member l T71.

Bolts |54 providefor adjustment ofv plates T76 with frame plates` |531 to locate suitably the "..hammer head withthe tire buildingjdrum. )The cross'brace'l'l ,can be alho'llowpipejas shown. The shaft actuating means comprises'a pulley 'i9 rotating around the long bolt as a shaftand integrally keyed -to the .same bearing sleeve 8! as pulley 'i9 and rotating with said pulley is sprocket V182. yAchainbeltf83'connects sprocket'f82 with sprocket 84 keyed tothe cam shaft and'thus drives the cam shaft. :The whole mechanism'is brought into `functioningrelation with the tread byhamrmeripositioning'arm or supportl (Fig. 2). This 1 armfis bolted or-weldedto 'the cross-bracel'l.

The beating members i3 comprise a hammer erably adjusted so thatonly thefhardest. blows .permit thaspringstofgive andfzallow'thehead to [the so-called slip drive.

9 move away from the work.` The hammer body and head form a slot 89 in which guide means or rod 99 ts. This rod is mounted between end plates or mounting plates as shown.

The hammer body is journaled to cam 14 rotating on cam shaft 15. The cam on each individual hammer' is odset `from the adjacent one and the row or series is set or arranged so that a wave of separate hammer blows flow out from the center towards the ends of `the stitching means. Each hammer body is of the same dimension over that portion which is journaled on the cams and the portion that includes the slots 89. That portion of the hammer body that eX- tends` beyond the slots is of such length that if all of the hammers were-mounted on a cylinder of the same diameter as the cams, then the hammer heads would align themselves substantially to the contour of the tread that is being applied. This insures substantially the same blow from each hammer head so that every part of the tread will receive substantially the same compacting pressure from the action of the hammers. By increasing the length of some of the hammers relative to the others the degree or intensity of the hammering action of such lengthened hammers is increased. This arrangement may be used to compact andbondtheirelatively thick central potrions of the tread against the underlying ply material of thetire band. g

`The timing of the cams is preferably such that only one hammer on each side of the centerline is in contact with the tread at `one time, but in each case, the adjacent outward` hammer is about to make contact as theinner hammer hits. Thus the hammers strike the tread in a sequential wave motion from the center outward. i

The hammer action is such that the hammer moves in and out as directed by the cam and pivots slightly on the guiderod to strike the tread along a line through the drumaxis and then pulls forward on the drum. `.The hammerhas a walking motion which rotates the drum but does not objectionably stretch the tread. Thus therlocus of the point of contact onthe tread or`its patch is an oval or ellipse. C This path9| is shown in Controls The operating mechanisms for( this machine are relatively simple. Thedrum shaft is rotated from pulley wheel 4 (Fig. l) which is run by belt or` chain off of sprocket 92. Sprocket 92 is in turn run from clutch 5. The clutch 5 itself is an air clutch and is best shown in Fig.` 25.` i y The clutch 6 is normally supplied with one hundred pounds of vair pressure from line 96. However, when the hammer` mechanism is brought into `position by adownward thrust from `piston rod 91 pivoted on` the hammer arm lever 98, a cam 99 presses roller |Il|l` andpushes shutoff valve Aor stop piston ||l| over the high pres sure air line to shut it od. This leaves only the low pressure line |02` supplying the clutch` to give A slip drive is a drive .y

in which the clutch only delivers enough power to barely rotate the drum, and any drag upon the drum cannot be overcomeand will stop it. The drum rotation is controlled byfoot pedals |03 and |04 (Fig. 23). One pedal is for forward or clockwise rotation and the other is for reverse or counter-clockwise rotation. The clutch is driven by electric motor |05 from sprocket |55 to clutch sprocket 94 by chain |01. p

At-the same time as the hammer arm lever `98 is pressing shut stop piston lill, it is closing switch |08 which starts electric motor |99 (Fig. 2) which by a pulley |49 (Fig. 1) and belt |59 runs pulley |5| on sleeve |52. Sleeve |52 rotates on shaft |38 and pulleys I5I and Il are both keyed or otherwise attached to the sleeve. Thus pulley |5| rotatespulley III) which by belt 8!! in turn rotates the pulley 19 and drives the hammer mechanism as already described.

The drum is inflated pneumatically. The air supply comes in through gland |I I (Fig. 8) on the drum shaft. The gland is stationary and has rings ||2 surrounded by packing ||3 so that it forms a tight seal with the shaft.l The air enters from the supplyline 96 through openings ||4 in the shaftandthen passes down the space between the inside of the drum shaft and the outside of the finger actuating rod sealing cylinder I|5. The air pressure is taken oir at tap I I5 and is delivered to the individual pneumatic annuli as shown in Fig. 5. The drum is iniiated from hand switch ||1 (Fig. 25) which in turn energizes solenoid I I3 to open air valve I I9. Air valve IIS supplies line air pressure to the pneumatic annuli.

As previously explained, the fingers` or folders are moved inward over the fabric ends by the sliding collars 4B which are in turn linked with the finger racks 55 and 56. The right finger rack 55 is moved or actuated in and outl by rack rod or collar actuating rod 58 (Fig. 8). tends down the center of the drum shaft to swivel connection |29. Bolt 2| coming from this connection screws or engages threads in the rod itself and is adjustable so that the length of the rod can be varied. Adjustment is necessary every time the drum width is varied by moving the drum cylinders in or out so that the fingers in the retracted position rest on the beveled flange of `the slotted end cylinders. The rod passes through coll-ars |22 on the inner shaft or rod sealing cylinder |I5 with rubber O-ring seals |23 l around the cylinder to prevent air leakage into `more even motion and eliminates unnecessary slamming and the like. The linger rod air piston '|24 is supplied with air pressure through valve |26 which is controlled by solenoid |21 controlled or energized by switch |28. Thus to move the finger pieces in the operation of this machine the operator only needs to close finger rod switch 28.

The bead positioning rings are activated by another similar air piston |29 in cylinder |51 connecting to the rings throughrod |30 (Figs. 3 and 26). `This piston is controlled by air valve ISI which is normally in the closed position. Bell crank arm I 32 pivoted at pivot |33 is kept up by spring |34 so that only when solenoidvalve I 35 is energized or functions does the arm move downward and apply pressure to the front face of This rod exi 1l piston |29 and bring the bead rings into position. Bead rack switch |365 controls solenoid |35 and when this switch is closed the bead positioning rings move upon the drum as described.

The tread stitching means or hammer mechanism is brought from its retracted or inactive position (Fig. 2) to the tread stitching position (Fig. 2 phantom outline) by piston rod 91 of piston |31 (Figs. 2 and 25), which pushes down on hammer arm 98. This arm pivots about shaft |38 and is bolted or welded to hammer support 85 to form a bell crank arrange-ment. The support is in turn bolted or welded to cross brace 'i1 and supports the whole mechanism.

Piston |31 is controlled by air valve |39 which is a three way valve supplying air pressure. Solenoid |40 controls the valve and is in turn operated from hand switch I4 l. Thus to raise the hammer mechanism into position the operator throws hand switch |4l.

As the hammer arm 58 is moving up into stitching position, the cam or lug |42 throws switch |08 which in turn starts the electric motor driving the stitching means. This operation thus automatically begins when the hammerarm is lowered and a separate switch for the stitching means is not necessary.

Operation Operation of the machine is as follows:

The layers or piles of rubberized tire fabric are wrapped or placed around the drum with bias cuts in each layer opposed or crossing at around a right angle. That is, the warp cords in each layer make an angle with the cords in the adjacent layers. The fabric usually consists of cotton, rayon, or nylon cords impregnated with rubber compound so that it is sticky or tacky and each layer sticks readily to the adjacent one.

By expanding the drum after the fabric layers have been located thereon, the fabric layers are stretched and wiped or forced together to eliminate any bumps, ridges, or air pockets. The expansion operation thus binds and wipes together the fabric layers.

The plies or fabric layers maybe of the same width. To give feathered or tapered edges, each layer is horizontally offset or staggered in relation to those adjacent.` This is shown in Fig. 5. The stagger or offset is usually from one-fourth to one-half inch. Each ply can be offset in or out or alternately. Another method of achieving a feathered edge is to use plies of decreasing widths with the widest on the inside and the outer ones progressively narrower. Four or six plies are usually used in a tire casing. The fabric ends or end portions project over the edge of the drum as shown in Figs. 5, 14 and l5 about three to six inches. Some projection o1' overhang is necessary to give enough fabric to wrap around the tire bead. The fabric layers are usually wrapped or disposed around the drum by hand from fabric rolls and cut 01T to length.

After the fabric layers have beenrplaced around the drum, the beads must be placed on the fabric end'portions. The beads are set on the bead rings at the beginning of the tire building operation. That is, when the outer or left-hand bead ring is in the axial or horizontal position and when the inner or right-hand ring is vertical and retracted (Fig. 3) the beads are placed upon them. The beads should t the rings snugly, but since the ring fingers are resilient and springlike they will give slightly to accommodate small variations in bead size.

ther out from the drum.

To bring the beads and. bead rings upinto position over the fabric ends, the operatorA throws hand switch |36' which causesk air piston |29 to move forward or toward the drum and bring one ring forward and the other ring up over the fabric ends (Fig. 5). This leaves the beads resting on the resilient fingers over the fabric end portions.

In the next stepthe drum is expanded by ination of the annuli. As it expands, the centering lugs expand radially outward against the fabric llayers and tend to pin or press portions of them against the inner bead circumference. In other words, the risers of the centering lugs enter into simultaneous rm engagement with the fabric concentrically interior of the beads and evenly aboutJ their inner circumference so as to pinch or squeeze portionsv of fabric radially exterior of the centering lug risers between the risers and the inner circumference of the tire beads. Portions of the fabric also wipe up against the inner sides |43 of the bead rings. This unites circumferential portions of the beads with the fabric and firmly positions them so that the bead ring can be withdrawn. Fig. 15 shows this position with the bead ring in dot and dash outline. Throughout this bead placing operation the face "|2 of the bead rings pushes in upon the beads and prevents them from becoming cocked or otherwise 01T center. The bead rings are then withdrawn and the beads are each left sticking firmly to a radially disposed portion of the fabric layers. j

After the beads have been placed on the fabric, the feathered fabric edges must be turned or rolled over the beads. This is accomplished by the novel turnover folders or fingers previously described. The sliding collars or finger actuating pieces 4S move forward and cause the links 45 to give a forward and outward push to the fingers. At the initial portion of this stroke, each nger is raised outward until its tail or end 5! is checked by the check ring or nger restraining ring 60 (see Fig. 16). The finger then moves forward out from under this ring and is raised still fur- (See Fig. 17.) The iinger nose is initially raised outward as it slides over the beveled face, or ramp of the centering lug, and then it is further lifted by the link. Concurrent with this action the slot rivet is bearing on the central end of the nger slot to give a rigid connection between the link and linger to effect this motion. All of this time the large garter spring through the nose position of the finger is pulling down and inward on the finger noseso that the resultant force is suflicient to keep the finger nose down and rolling over the ply layers. The finger nose or front has an inwardly beveled face as shown So that forward horizontal forces from the collar and link result in radial outward climbing motion. Fig. 18 shows the maximum forward position of the finger in the turnover operation. It should be notedthat the garter spring is strong enough to keep pulling down on the nose and to give the assembly pushing-rigidity so that the link does not necessarily pivot on its pivot |44 until its boss 53 abuts the face of the flange 54 of finger push collar 46. In other words, the link does not have to pivot until the link boss abuts collar face to give the assembly suilicient pushing-rigidity. In some instances, however, the boss-will abut the collar face. Thus the boss serves as a positive check to insure rigidity of the linkage throughout the 'forward stroke. Throughout the turnover step,

this garter spring also presses radially inward i the ply layers.

upon and stitches down the fabric edges as they are rolledor turned over. Sinceeach of theilni gers are disposed -concentrically and evently about the circumference of the end cylinders and all of the lingers on each cylinder are moved from a single sliding collar and connected by similar linkage and have a common garter spring through their noses, the lingers on each end cylinder move together and generally cooperate throughout the lapping operation. i The garter spring connecting through portions of the lingers throws the drum into slip drive, and startsthe electric motor driving the hammer shaft. The hammers beat or stitch thetread onto the plies.

, Each hammer engages and strikesthe camelback in a walking motion which presses down upon the camelback and pulls it forward. The locus of `the center point on the hammer is thus an ovalor ellipse 9|, as shown in` Fig. 22. At the same time, the row of hammers `'strike in a relawtively `rapid undulating wave motion progressing outward from thecenter hammers.

thoroughlybeats or stitches the camelback onto the fabric layers. Each hammer is `spring `mounted for resilient 'yielding action so that when a bulky or bumpy portion of the Camelback is encountered, the individual hammer `will yield and not dig into it. The drum is turnedone or more times in this stitching Operation."

When the tread stitching operation has been completed, the drum is deflated. This leaves the `assembled casing |45 on the drum (Fig.` V2l) ready to `be lifted off and sent on tojbe` further expanded and vulcanized. Fig. 20 u shows the stitching operation completed with the drum still inflated and Fig. 21` shows the drum deflated with the casing loosely hangingon it. The cycle is then repeated' on anothertire. i e e l Itis to be understoodthatthe machine shown herein in!` detail may be varied considerably without departing from the scopeof invention herein shown and described. e e

What I claim is:

1. `The method` ofA building afpneumatic tire `lcomprisingdisposing-a plurality offabric layers over a drum, disposing the tire beads overthefabf `ric end portions onbead placing means, expanding y, the` drum and integral clamping means out against the fabric end portions so that thin, flexible flanged portions of the bead placing means are between the inner-circumference of the tire beads and the fabric end portions with the Aclamping means pressing out against the-fabric end porftions, Awithdrawing the flanged portions of the bead placingmeans from between the inner circumference. of the tire beads and the fabric end l 1 `portionsto leave the beads resting and positioned on the end portions, lapping said fabric ends over said beads, f wrapping a tire` tread over-said `fabric layers, .beating said,` tread sequentially across the tread face at a multiplicity of points,

,i the drumbeing rotated so that the hammer blows means on the drum shaft, pneumatic annuli dis'- posed aroundsaid `supporting means, a multiplicity of segments over said annuli, resilient circumferential constraining means disposed around said segments, means to inflate said annuli, bead placing means comprising annular rings with thin` inwardly directed, axial flanges thereon adapted to receive tire beads so that the beads rest on the relatively thin flanges and against the face of the ring, said rings fitting 4over the ends of the drum and being retractible therefrom, means to advance and retract said bead placing means, fabric lapping means for turning the end portions of the fabric layers over the tire beads comprising a multiplicity of nger pieces disposed adjacent the end portions of the drum, means for guiding and supporting said linger pieces, resilient constraining means through the y accurately placing tire beads on the end portions `of fabric layers disposed around a drum which comprises placing the tire beads on resilient fingers of annular bead rings, disposing the bead rings over the fabric end portions, expanding a multiplicity of circumferentially disposed pressing means outV against the fabric end portions so that the fabric end portions press radially outward against the inner circumferential surface of the tire beads and pinch the resilient fingers between the inner circumferential surface of the A tire beads and thefabric end portions, andwithdrawing the bead rings and resilient lingers of the bead rings from between the inner circum-` ferential surface of the tire beads and the fabric end portions vto leave thebeads over the fabric end portions with the pressing meansp'ressing out against the fabric end portions and positively positioning the beads therewith. i i i 4. In a tire building machine bead placing means comprising ringswith a multiplicity of circumferentially disposedrelatively thin, inwardly directed, axially aligned flanges for receiving the tire beads, said rings fitting over the ends of the drum and the width of the beads being greater than the width of the flanges.

`5. In a tire building machine, bead" placing means comprising an annular ring with a multiplicity of resilient fingers disposed about the face thereof extending substantially paralle1 to the toward the center of the drum. i

6, In a tire building machine, bead lplacing means comprising` `an annular ring with a multiplicity `of resilient fingers disposed `arlmndifthe axis of the drum of the tire 'building machine and face thereof extending substantially parallel to strike progressively-around the drum circumferu ence, contracting said drum, `and removing the tire casing therefrom.

2. A tire buildingmachine comprising an exi the axis of the drum of thetire building machine and toward the center of thedrum `so that tire beads ilt over and rest upon said :lngersjand against the ring face, the widthofjthe beads being greater than the width of the fingers Vsolthat l when the beads are fitted over the lingers-` and against the ring faceyportions of `the beadfextend out and over the finger ends. `5"

7. In a tire building machine, a tread beating mechanism comprising a multiplicity of beating members mounted on a shaft Withcams thereon 1 pancabie drum with` :cylindrical supporting 75 intermediate supporting plates, a guidellrod ifnmounted f' between saidv plates 'guiding' and "supporting the nose 'portions'of said beating members',`and Idriving means toV drive said'shaft; leach cam on said shaft correspondingv with a beating member and being so set th'at'thebeating'mem- .2 bers 'strike si'lcc'essivelyV across the face of the tread.

8.11m am@ tunning machine, tread stitching means comprisingma cam shaft mounted between two mounting plates'a'multiplicity ofV cams on i said shaft.. a munipiicity of hammer bodies jour- -naled on said camsal multiplicity of hammers attached to said hammer bodies, aslot inthe outer portion of said' hammer andv hammer body as- `se \1 fn b1y, a guide rodmounted on mounting plates thrmigli` Vsa'id"slots, and, driving means for said shaft, said Acams beingset so that the' hammers successively strike "across the'tread' face as the shaft is rotated.

Q .nThe `tread stitching means-of' claim i8 in ,l the hammers are spring mounted onthe hammer bodies. l

1- c ..,1natire.,bui1ding machine; a tread 'beating mechanism comprising a multiplicity off'camv.inounted beating members mounted in a row int'erir lediate 'mountingplates driving means for vsaid beating membe'rswhereby eachmemberv successiyely strikes and beatsthe tread, and'control .means whereby the tire drum automatically is slipdriven when the beating mechanism is in the operative position.

. 1 `1.- I n a, tiref building machine, n an `expandable I ,drum vcompr sing cylindrical supporting means, p neumat ic annuli disposed around said support- 'ing; means, a multiplicity of interiitting segments disposed oven said annuli, resilient circumferenrtial `constrainingl means disposed farou'nd saidfseg- .,ments, and means to inflate and deflate said pneumatic annuli. Y

In: a tire building machinefan expandable l drumomprising a cylindrical' center spider with a -central circumferential kgroove thereinlmounted D orrthe drum shaft, afmultiplicity of center segments with a radially inward central bend therein ttinginto said circumferential groove, circumferentialconstraining means disposed around said center segments in the middle bend thereof,

, drum spidersf adjustablymounted on the drum shaft on each side of the center spider, pneumatic annuli disposed around said drum spiders, a multiplicity of end segments* disposed .around said pneumatic annuli, constraining means disposed on said end segments, and means to iniiateand deate said pneumatic annuli, said center segments and said end segments interiitting inthe f expanded and contracted drum positions t0 form a regular cylindrical surface. Y

13. In a tire building machine, an expandable f .drur'n comprising a web structure with a cylindrical surface with `a central circumferential groove therein-mounted on the drum shaft, drum spiders ..with'cylindrical surfaces slidably mounted and aialiy adjustable on the drum shaft on either side of said web structure, pneumatic annuli disposedaround said drum spiders, web segments around said drum spiders, constraining means in die...

said constraining means support, means to inflate `rear portion thereof each link in turn beingpivotedon a sliding collar inside. the slottedfend cylinder, anvadjustable restraining ringe around the outer edge portion of theslottedfcylinderto restrain the nger pieces in their initialupward and forward movement, and means tov movesaid collarvaxially in and out .l i, 15. In a tire building machine with a. central drum shaftanda drum annuli supporting' piece mounted onv said shaft, fabric lapping means? for turning the end portions of 'the fabriclayers over tire beads disposed on thetire building. drum circumference comprising av flanged collar. slidable on the drum shaft, a plurality of linksfdisposed about the collar circumference and pivoting ontheiiange portions thereof, fingerepieces pivoted between their middle and reanportions with said links, aslottedf-cylinder bolted='tol`the drumv annuli supporting piece `with'v slots therein for each finger piece, v`saidfinger pieces.having rounded, beveled noseI portions, agarter' spring through the nose portions offsaid ngerpieces, an arcuate slot'in each'nger piecerelativ'el'y'near the pivot point with the link, achecklr'odonf-the link tting into-said fingerslot, ana'djustable restraining ring around the outer'edge portion of the slottedY cylinder "to restrain the nger pieces in their initialupwa'rdand forward movement, and means to move said flanged collarin andout on the drum shaft, l Q 1 16. In a tirebuilding machine, fabricflappng ,means comprising --a multipli cit y' of fingers disposedaro'und cylindrical-supportingand guiding means, av garter spring Vthrough the nose portion of said fingers, an axiallyV movablecollarfa vmultiplicity of connectingY Pieces`piv c t'ed atjone' end onsaidcollar anden the otherend o n` said iin- Y gers', alostv motion connectionbetweenfsaid' flngers and said connecting piecesganiadjustable restraining ring around/they end 'portion .off said cylindricalrsu'pporting and guiding means,` and means whereby said collar is axially "moved in ralityof finger .pieo'esldisposedaboutftheadrum circumference with resilient constraining; means through the nose -p'orltionsthereo'f sof as 'toLlift outward ther en'dfportions` of thefabric layers disposed `over said finger piecesffand lapl saidend portions voverthetire beads '-onto the building drum as ysaid finger pieces 'moveele'n'terwa'rd,l and nnauy witndrawingsaisnnger pieces; H

"19.-: The method of claim 18"in-fwhichthetail portion of the finger pieces are restrained so that www - the nose portion lifts outward in advancejof the ping means disposed circumferentially adjacent the drum shoulders to lift the fabric end portions horizontally centerward and radially outward over the tire beads and lap them onto the fabric layer on the drum and finally `withdrawing said lapping means, said lapping means being subject to radially centerward forces throughout the operation. j j

21. In a tire building `operation the method of stitching tire tread upon fabric layers disposed around a drumcomprising the steps `of dispos-M ing the tread over the fabric layers around the drum, beating and striking said tread at a multiplicity of points with beating means of relatively small tread-contact area, the tread contact point on the beating means approximately describing an ellipse as it follows its cycle, the drum being allowed to rotate so that the tread is stitched progressively around the drum circumference.

22. In a tire building operation, the method of stitching tire tread upon fabric layers disposed around a drum comprising the steps of disposing the tread over the fabric layers around the drum, beating and striking said tread sequentially at a multiplicity of points in an axial row across the tread face, the forces from striking and beating said tread rotating the drum to stitch the tread progressively around the drum circumference.

23. In a tire building operation, the method of stitching tire tread upon fabric layers disposed around a drum comprising the steps of disposing the tread over the fabric layers around the drum,` beating and striking said tread in sequence across the tread face on axes substantially parallel to the major axis of the drum at a multiplicity of points with the beating means having relatively small tread contact area, the forces from striking and beating said tread rotating the drum to stitch the tread progressively around the drum circumference.

24. The method of claim 23 in which the drum is slip-driven throughout the tread stitching operation.

25. A method of building a pneumatic tire casing on a drum comprising the steps of disposing a plurality of fabric layers around the drum with end portions of the fabric layers extending beyond the shoulders of the drum, disposing tire beads adjacent the drum shoulders and over the fabric end portions, radially expanding the drum and fabric layers to press and Wipe the fabric end portions against the tire beads, lapping said fabric end portions over said beads, disposing tire tread around the drum and over the fabric layers, beating said tread at a multiplicity of pointsv in axial rovvV across the tread face to stitch said tread to the fabric layers, contracting the drum, and removing the casing thus formed therefrom.

26. The method of banding a pneumatic are casing comprising the steps of disposing a plurality of fabric layers over a drum with end portions of the fabric layers extending beyond the shoulders of the drum, disposing tire beads on circumferentially disposed, horizontally extending relatively thin flanges adjacent the drum A shoulders and over the fabric end portionaradially expanding the drum and" fabric layersltf press and wipe the fabric end portions against the 'tire beads and to pinch the bead supporting flanges between the fabric endportions and the'inner circumferential surface of the tire beads`,"vvithdrawing the relatively thin flanges, disposing tire tread around the drum and over thefabric layers, beating and striking said tread sequentially across the tread `face at a multiplicity 'ofpoints the forces from striking and beating said `tread rotating the drum to stitch the tread onto the fabric layers` progressively around the drum circumference, contracting the drum, and withdrawing a tire casing.

27. In a tire building machine an expandable drum comprising a cylindrical supporting'nieans mounted on the drum shaft, pneumaticann'uli disposedv around said supporting means, a multiplicity of segments over said annuli, resilient constraining means disposed around said segments, means to inflate said annuli, bead placing rings at the drum ends comprising annular rings with a multiplicity of resilient fingers disposed about the face thereof extending parallel to the axis of the drum and toward the center thereof, means to advance and retract said bead placing means, fabric lapping means comprising a multiplicity of finger pieces disposed circumferentially around a slotted end cylinder, resilient constraining means through the forward portion of said finger pieces, a link pivoted onto each finger piece toward the rear portion thereof each link in turn pivoted at the outer end on a sliding collar on the drum shaft, means to move said collar in and out on the drum shaft. and tread stitching means comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of the drum mounted between two mounting plates, a multiplicity of cams on said shaft, a multiplicity of beating members journaled on said cams, a guide rod mounted between said plates guiding the nose portions of said beating members, driving means to drive said shaft, each cam on said shaft actuating a beating member, and means to bring said tread stitching means into stitching position over the drum.

28. The method of placing tire beads on the fabric end portions of fabric` layers disposed around a tire building drum comprising the steps of disposing tire beads on resilient supporting means over the fabric end portions, radially expanding the drum and fabric layers to press and Wipe the fabric end portions against the tire beads, and finally withdrawing the resilient supporting means to leave the tire beads positioned on the fabric end portions.

29. The method of placing tire beads on the fabric end portions of fabric layers disposed around a tire building drum comprising the steps of disposing the tireV beads on circumferentially disposed, horizontallyextending relatively thin flanges adjacent the drum shoulders and over the fabric end portions, radially expanding the drum and fabric layers to press and wipe the fabric end portions against the tire beads and to pinch the bead supporting flanges between the fabric end portions and the inner circumferential surface of the tire beads, and finally withdrawing the relatively thin flanges to leave the tire beads on the fabric end portions.

30. The method of claim 29 in which the circumferentially disposed, horizontally extending, relatively thin flanges are spaced apart so that on initial expansion the fabric end portions press fin 15a 519' A l relatively thin 'flanges/:Pand artagainst Vthe inner 'circumferentialsurface if ofthe tire beads.

4"31. Atreadb'eating mechanism 'comprising a lshafigl a multiplicity-'of damsonsaid shaft, a fvmultiplicity of beating members journaled onsaid Y "earns,` slots insaid beating members, a guide and @aligning rod parallel to said shaft and ythrough "the j slots insaid jb'eatvngrnembers, mounting y 'eans supporting "saidshat Aandfguidev rod; and

' means to drive said' shaft.

" 32. rhapparatus 10i leiaimj'ie inwnieii Vthere fare; rollers on'thenoseportionv of the lingersA and a' series `of rollersV "on the raially central' portion of the lingers.

longitudinal axis of the drum, reslientenstrain- `-ingf'means through the'forwardportions of Ysaid vil'nger pieces, 'nger piece actuating means;v links `pivoted at one-end'toward the rear portion of'sad nger kpieces andat the other endVontothe finger pieceactuatingl means Vand guide and p0- sitioning means for said finger pieces.- Y HERMAN 'TTKR'AFT REFERENCES CITED The"following` references arev of reeord-'ir'ry the file' of y'this patent:

UNITED 'sTATEs 'PMN i Ts Number Name Date 1 2,182,176 Vls/Iaranville l v Deel. 5, -11939 '-2;313,035 Breth \Ma1.l9,l1943 

1. THE METHOD OF BUILDING A PNEUMATIC TIRECOMPRISING DISPOSING A PLURALITY OF FABRIC LAYERS OVER A DRUM, DISPOSING THE TIRE BEADS OVER THE FABRIC END PORTIONS ON BEAD PLACING MEANS, EXPANDING THE DRUM AND INTEGRAL CLAMPING MEANS OUT AGAINST THE FABRIC END PORTIONS SO THAT THIN, FLEXIBLE FLANGED PORTIONS OF THE BEAD PLACING MEANS ARE BETWEEN THE INNER CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE BEADS AND THE FABRIC END PORTIONS WITH THE CLAMPING MEANS PRESSING OUT AGAINST THE FABRIC END PORTIONS, WITHDRAWING THE FLANGED PORTIONS OF THE BEAD PLACING MEANS FROM BETWEEN THE INNER CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE BEADS AND THE FABRIC END PORTIONS TO LEAVE THE BEADS RESTING AND POSITIONED ON THE END PORTIONS, LAPPING SAID FABRIC ENDS OVER SAID BEADS, WRAPPING A TIRE TREAD OVER SAID FABRIC LAYERS, BEATING SAID TREAD SEQUENTIALLY ACROSS THE TREAD FACE AT A MULTIPLICITY OF POINTS, THE DRUM BEING ROTATED SO THAT THE HAMMER BLOWS STRIKE PROGRESSIVELY AROUND THE DRUM CIRCUMFERENCE, CONTRACTING SAID DRUM, AND REMOVING THE TIRE CASING THEREFROM. 